Process and apparatus for the manufacture of metal tubes by the selfhooping process



E. SCHNEIDER.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FUR THE MANUFACTURE OF METAL TUBES BY THE SELF HOOPING PROCESS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31, I919 1,391,009. PatentedSept. 20,

3 SHEETS-SHEE (I I ////A E- SCHNEIDER.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS 'FOR THE MANUFACTUBEOF METAL TUBES BY'THE SELF HOOPING PROCESS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3h 1919.

1,391,009., PatentedSept. 20, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- E. SCHNEIDER. PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF METAL TUBES BY THE SELF HOOPING PROCESS.

APPLICATION FILED MAILBI. I919. 7 1,391,009. PatentedSept. 20, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

j UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE SCHNEIDER, 0F PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR To SCHNEIDER a cm, or PARIS,

FRANCE, A LIMITED JOINT-STOCK COMPANY OF FRANCE.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF METAL TUBES BY THE SELE- noorme PROCESS. I

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept, 20, 1921, 7

Application filed llarch 3 1, 1919. Serial No. 286,501.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE SCHNEIDER, citizen of the French Republic, and resident of 42 Rue dAnjou,-Paris, France, have invented a new and useful Improved Process and Apparatus for the Manufacture of Metal Tubes by the Self-Hooping Process, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention has for its object to provide an improved process and apparatus for the: manufacture of metal tubes of great strength by the self-hooping process;

This invention is applicable to the known process wherein the self-hooping is effected by the pressure of a liquidacting between the inner wall of the tube to be shaped, and a resistant core (self-hooping. mandrel) inserted in the said tube.

' In order to allow of applying pressures varying-according to the varlous zones of the tube owing to the thickness of the latter that vary at the different Ipoin'ts of its length, it is necessary to shift one of the heads (between the mandrel and the inner wall of the tube) that limit the extent of the zone that is to be treated at anyone time.

WVith the hitherto known means each shifting of the head entails a rather lengthy operation, practically requiring the dismounting and replacing of the mandrel, which operation is not always done without impairing the connections.

According to the presentinvention the shifting of the head is effected automatically without any previous withdrawal, by the action of the liquid under pressure; the operation comprising only a rapid and very simple operation and not entailing any dismounting of the mandrel whatever.

For this purpose there is slipped on the mandrel a series of juxtaposed liners or sleeves shaped to fit the annular space between the said mandrel and the tube, the

sections being each of a length corresponding approximately to the respective lengths of the successive zones to be treated. By withdrawing these liners or liner sections, that is to. say, by reducing their number in succession by one unit, there is uncovered each time an increased length of the inner wall of the tube and of the outer surface of the mandrel, and the liquid is allowed to exert a thrust upon the head which latter is thereby caused automatically to take its place at the'end of that section of the tube that has just been-uncovered.

The liners may be arranged on the mandrel inside the tube to be shaped, in which case the head, in shifting,'will slide along on a mandrel that is kept in a fixed position in the tube.

The liners may be arranged on a part of the mandrel that projects out of the tube at the commencement of the operation. In

such a case the sliding of the head which is then situated near the inner end of the mandrel, will be produced by an automatic shiftlng of this end of the mandrel caused by the withdrawal of a liner.

These two constructional forms of the improved apparatus are illustrated by way of ezilamfiole in the accompanying drawings in w 10 Complementary Figures 1, 1 are a lon- 7 gitudinal section of a gun barrel tube in I course of manufacture by the self-hooping process. The mandrel, the sliding head and the removable liners are shown in the positions they occupy at the commencement of the operation.

Complementary Figs. 2, 2" are a similar section in which the parts are shown in the positlons they occupy after the sliding of the joint and the ejection of a liner; and

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the details of the sliding joint.

Figs. 4, 4 and 5, 5 are similar longitudinal sections illustrating. two different stages of the operation of one and the same second constructional form of the improved apparatus applied to the self-hooping of a gun barrel tube. Inthese various figura, A is the tube to .be self-hooped; and B is the self-hoop- 96 ing mandrel.

In the example shown in Figs. 1, 1 and-2, 2 the mandrel B is fixed in the tube A. Its rear end is pierced with a passage 6 for the admission of the charges of liquid under 100 pressure, and receives a nut C by means of which the mandrel bears against a screw plug D screwed in the rear end of the tube The passage 1) communicates with the liqu-idsupply pipe E.

A length of mandrel corresponding to the length of a first rearward zone Z of the tube A, is left uncovered at the said zone. Thewholeof the remaining length of the mandrel is surrounded by a liner composed of a plurality of juxtaposed sleeves or seetions, F F F, E which vary according to the number of zones of treatment "Z Z Z and are made of lengths to correspond.

The front liner FF, that is, thezfirstliner to be ejected, has a length suitable to the length of the zone Z the second linerF has a' length L equal to the length of the following zone Z and so on. C is a retaining nut screwed on the front end of the mandrel.

That portion of the mandrel B that has been left uncovered at the commencement of the operation, is limited at the rear by a fixed annular joint, and in front by the annular head. These two heads, and especially the slidinghead, are preferably constructed as shown in Fig. 3. They comprise inthe known way, a cup ring G made of a plastic material, (special hard rubber or other substance), bearing by means of'a beveled split metal ring H against an abutment ring I having a corresponding bevel this ring I may be, split or not. According to the present invention the driving ring J engages in the cup'ring means of a ha'rpoon-shapedportion 7', that is 't 1- ay,"having shoulderswhich enable it to have a fir ri on the plastic material and thus insure that the said ring shall share the'shifting movements of the joint. This joint hasa continual bearing against the reta'ining nut C bv'means of the liner sections, F F F Vhen this nut is removed, the front head toge'zher'with the liner sectionsw'iH be forced out asa whole by the pressure of the liquid.

After the zone Z of the tube A has been subjected for the first time during the desired period to the action of a charge of the pressure liquid, it will be merely necessary to remove the retaining nut C in order to allow the sliding head to move forward. This forward movement can take place undera very low pressure, and this pressure can be regulated by simply operating the valve that admitstheliqu'id into the interior" of the mandrel" B. The movement'can then be stopped immediately the first liner sec tion is ejected: this positionis shown in Fig; 2.

placed, and the apparatus is ready for treatingthe two zones Z and Z together as a The retaining nut C is then rewhole.

After this treatment, (the head is shifted [again automatically in the same way, and then the zones Z Z Z are treated together as a whole and so on.

n W111 e perceived that the zones z +za "taken together as a whole cover the zone Z without the least interruption. Similarly the'wo'nes Z +Z +Z taken together as a G by whole, cover without any interruption the entity consisting of the zones Z +Z In the modification illustrated; i-nFigs. 4,

4* and 5,5 the liner sections F F F are slipped over a portion ofv the self-hoopingmandrel B that'is allowed to project out of the tube'A at the rear end of the latter,"between a retaining nut C and an annular plug D. The portion of the mandrel that is allowed to remain inside the tube at the commencement' of'the operation, has a length equal to the length of the zone Z which is: to be treated next immediately. The slid-' ing head bears against the'nut Cscrewed on the inner end of the mandrel. i

The liquid under pressure enters througl the axial passage Z), into the annular space between the mandrel B and the inner wall of the tube A, which space is limited at the rear by the fixed rear annular head,and at the front by the sliding annular'head that bears against the nut C hen the zone Z of the tube has been subjected for afirst time during the desired period to the pressure of the liquid, the liner sectionF is removed. This removal may be effected without first unscrewing thcnut C and without undoing the connection with the flexible pipe E supplying the liquid. For this purpose it is suflicient to make the liner sections in two-half sections provided with assembling flanges or collars f as indicated in the drawings'in the case of the liner section F ;said flanges being bolted or otherwise connected together. I

By the action of the liquid pressure upon the sliding annular head, the mandrel, l3

will thenmove into the tube, and will assume the position shown in Fig. 5, 5?, the nut C then abutting through the medium of the whole of the remaining liner sections against the annular plug D.

tube may besubdivided into any desired number of consecutive zones so as to adapt the deformations as exactly as possible'to the outer profile of the tube, and to the strains to which the various'zones of the tube will be subjected when the gun is fired; and that, to repeat what has already been said above,

thelwhole operation is' performed without entailing any removal or replacing of the mandrel, or the removal and replaeementof any head; the entire apparatus comprising only n fixed head and one head which is What I claim is 1. The process of treating metallic tubes 'to shapeand to strengthen the Wall thereof, consisting in subjecting the interior of the tube to successive charges of reforming fluid-pressure initially-introduced in one end of the tube and progressively increasing 'ceeding charge added ther'eto' adapted to be shifted automatically by the liquid'pressure. 1

the areasof application of the successive charges towardthe other end of the tube, the fluid of each preceding charge being retained in the tube and the fluid of the suc- 2.' The process of treatingmetallic tubes to shapeandto strengthen the wall thereof, consisting in subjecting the interior of the tube to successive charges of deforming fluid-pressure initiallyintroduced in one end of "the tube and progressively increasing the areas of application of the successive charges toward the other end of the tube, the fluid of each preceding charge being retained in the tubeand the fluid of the succeeding charge added thereto, and confinging each charge to a predetermined zone of applicationwith each succeeding zone of application overlapping the preceding zone" 'o'fapplica'tioni" I j V 3 The process of treating metallic tubes having a wall comparatively thick at one end and tapering toward the otherend to' shape and to strengthen said wall, consist-- ing in subjecting. the interior vof the tubeto successive charges of deforming fluiidpressure initially introducedin the end of the tube having the thicker wall and progressively increasing theareas of applicationtoward'the other end ofthe tube, the

fluid of each preceding charge being re tained in the tube and the fluid ofthe sucf'ceeding charge added thereto, and confining each charge to a predetermined zone of application with each succeeding zone of application including all of the preceding zones of application.

4. The process of, treating gun-barrels having a wall comparatively and uniformly thick'in the breech and tapering in the chase strengthen said'wall. consisting in subjecttoward the muzzle to shape and to 1 ing the. interior of the barrel to successive charges of deformmg fluid pressure init ally f the breech of the barrel and the zones rof the I succeeding applications being progressively] I r I "tubes to shape and to strengthen the same,'

1 introduced in the breech-end of the barrel and progressively increasing the areas of ap r plication toward the. muzzle-lend of the barrel, the fluid of each preceding charge being retained in the barrel and the fluid of the 6 vsucceeding charge added thereto, and confining each charge to a predetermined zone of application, the zone o f'the initial application'bein'g approximately coextensive with extended toward the muzzle of the barrel ing fluid-pressure and'then introducing ad ditionalfluid-pressure to move the released the head held on the mandrel to confine the "from the tube.

the bore of the'tube, consisting'in subjecting the interior of the tube between the closed end thereof" and the head to deforming fluid-- pressure and then introducing additional fluid-pressure to move the head to its next {adjustment to extend the area of application, applying' deforming fluid-pressure to the area so extended, and repeating the operation throughout the length of the tube. 6. The process of treating metallic tubes to shape and to strengthen the same by fluid pressure introduced between a closed end of the tube and a head slidablv adjustable on a mandrel mounted in the tube, consisting in subjecting the interior of thetube between the closed end thereof and the head temporarily held on the mandrel to deformhead toits next adjustment toextend the area of application, applying deforming fluid-pressure" to the area so extended with application to such area, and repeating the operation throughout the length of the tube without dismounting the mandrel and head 7. An apparatus for treating metallic 1 tubes to shape and to strengthen the same, comprising means for closingone end'of the tube,'means for introducing successive charges of deforming fluid-pressure into the closed end of the tube, a head movable along" the interior of the tube by'the thrust of the fluid-pressure therein to progressively increase the area of fluid-pressure application, and adjusting means mounted in the tube and'operative to limit the advance of the head to predetermined intervals andto hold said head in its adjusted positions against the thrust of the deforming fluid-pressure.-

8. An apparatus for treating -metallic tubes to shape and to strengthen the same,

comprising means for closing one end of the tube, means for, lntroduclng successive "charges of deforming fluid-pressure into the closed end of the tube, a mandrel mounted in the tube to remain therein during the treatment of the tube, a head slidable on the mandrel tobe moved along the interior of thetube by the thrust of the fluid-pressure, and holding means carried by the mandrel to limit the advance of the head to predetermined intervals'and to hold said head in its adjusted positions against the thrust of the deforming fluid-pressure.

.9. An apparatus for treating metallic tube,

comprisingmeans for closing oneend of. the means for introducing successive charges of deforming fluid-pressure into the closed end of the tube, a head'movable along the interior of the tube by the. thrust of the fluid-pressure therein ,to progressively -increase, the area of fluid-pressure application,

I a series of abutting elements mounted-inthe tube in advance of'thehead to be sequentially displaced from the. tube by the forward 1 ing means operative; to connect the outermovement of the head, and adjusting means for engaging the outermost element to hold the remaining elements and the head against further displacement by .the. fluid-Pressure, thelength of the displaced elementsdeter- .mining the advance of; the head.

10. An apparatus for treating -metallic tubes to shape and-to= strengthen the-same, comprising means for closingone end of the tube, means for introducing successive charges of deforming fiuid-pressure-intothe closed end otthetube, a mandrel mounted in the' tube toremain :therein during. the treatment of the tube, a head slidable .onthe mandrel to be moved alongthe-interionof the tube by the thrust of the fluid-pressure,

. a series ofabutting elements carried by the mandrel in advance ofthehead'to be-se quentially displaced from the mandrel :by the forward movement of the head, and holdmost element. to :the mandrel to hold the remaining elements .and the. head against ,fur-

ther displacement by the fiuid -pressure the length of the displaced elements determining the advance of the head.

"11. An apparatus for treating z metallic,

.ative to engage the outermost of the abutting elements to hold the remaining. elements r and the head-e against further displacement by. the fluidqoressure, thelength of the displaced elements. determining the advancejof the. head. 7

12. An apparatus .for treating metallic tubes. to. shape and to; strengthen. the same,

I comprisingxmeans for closingoneendof the tube, means for charging fluid-pressure into the closed end of the tube, ahead movable inthe tube in advance of thefluidpressure to confine the latter to a predetermined zone of application, a .mandrel carrying a series ofsleeves sequentiallydis- :placeable therefrom cooperating with a ho d ng means t hold the he -amu et the .thrust of .a fluid-pressure application,

the sequential displacement of the sleeves from the mandrel controllinglheadvance of the head, the length .oflthe individual sleeves determining the area -.of increase in the consecutive applicationsofthefiuidpressure.

. 13. An tubes to shapeand to strengthenthesame, comprising means for closing one end ofthe tube, means for charging fluid-pressure into the closed end of the tube, a head movable in the tube in advanceofv the fluid-pressure to confine the latter to a predetermined zone -of application, a .series of .elements placed: in the tube in. advance...of.the headto-controlthe movement of said,head,.said.,ele-

ments being movable in'ithe tubeto be sev quentially ejectedfiom. the open, end thereof, the length of an. ejected element. deter:

mining. the-advance of the head for. thesubsequent application .of fluid-pressure, and

means forrholding. in, pla'ce the. elementsfremaining .in the tube against the thrust of the. head from thei iflui'drpressure.

14.. An apparatus 'for f treating; metallic tubes. to. shape and to strengthen; the; same, comprising means for. closing one end ,of

the tube, means for chargingifluid pressure into the closedendof. the tube, amand rel, extendingv through. the tube and. temporarily secured to the closed. end tithe, same,. an

annular. head movableon. the mandrel. within the tube in. advance; of the, fluid-pressure .to. confine. the latter to .a predetermined zone of application, a; series of I sleevesumovable on the mandrel inadvance o fthe head to.-;be sequentially, ejected from the. tube, "detach- .able means. onthe mandrel for holding the sleeves thereon against the thrust of the head. from. the fluid-pressure and operative to vpermit the.relea'se offthe sleeveszfrom apparatus for .1 treating metallic the mandrel, thesequential ejectment of the sleeves fromthe tube and mandrel controlling theadvance of the head, the; length 'of the individual sleevesidetiermining the area of increase in the consecutiveapplications of fluid-pressure.

, 15. An apparatus for treating .,metallic' tubesto shape and to.- strengthen the same, comprising a plug screwed, into one endiof v the tube to .temporarily close the same,; a. mandrel extendingrthroug'hhe tube an through the plug and having a ductffor fluid-pressure charges leading into the inner end of-the' tube, an annular head, movable on the mandrel within. the tube in advance of the fluid-pressure; to confine the latter to 'a predetermined zone of application, a Series of sleeves movable on thenmandr'el in .ad-: vance ofthe. head to, be sequentiallyejected 1 from the tube, the. sequential ejectinent of the sleeves fromjthe. tube and mandrelcontrolling the advance of. the head, the length of I the i individual sleeve slate ?!'Hining;v the;

area of increase in the consecutive applications of fluid-pressure, a nut on one end of the mandrel to engage the plug to hold the mandrel against the inward pull, and a nut on the other end of the mandrel to engage the outward thrust of the sleeves.

16. An apparatus for treating metallic tubes to shape and to strengthen the same, comprising relatively adjustable heads spaced apart in the tube being treated to confine therebetween the fluid-pressure to a predetermined zone of application, means for charging fluid-pressure into the tube between the heads, and adjustable means for holding the heads in their adjusted relation, said adjustable means being operative to permit progressive separations of the heads by the action of the fluid-pressure to include between said heads successive zones of increased area for the'successive applications of fluid-pressure.

17. An apparatus for treating metallic tubes to shape and to strengthen the same, comprising heads spaced apart in the tube being treated to confine therebetween the fluid-pressure to a predetermined zone of application, one of'said heads being stationary at one end of the tube and the other head being movably adjustable toward the other end of the tube, means for charging fluid-pressure into the tube between the heads, and adjustable means for holding the adjustable head in its adjustments, said adjustable means being operative to permit progressive movements of the adjustable head by the action of the fluid-pressure to include between said heads successive zones of increased area for the successive applications of fluid-pressure.

18. An apparatus for treating metallic tubes to shape and to strengthen the same, comprising heads spaced apart in the tube being treated to confine therebetween the fluid-pressure to a predetermined zone of application and with one of the heads movable relatively to the other, means for charging fluid-pressure into the tube between the heads, a mandrel and a series of sleeves removably mounted thereon cooperating to receive and transmit the thrust of the movable head to a fixed part of the tube, said sleeves being successively removable from the mandrel to permit progressive movements of the movable head by the action of the fluidpressure thereon to include between said heads successive zones of increased area for the successive applications of the fluid-pressure, the increased area of each zone being determined by the previously removed sleeve.

19. An apparatus for treating metallic tubes to shape and to strengthen the same, comprising heads spaced apart in the tube being treated to confine therebetween the fluid-pressure to a predetermined zone of application, means for charging fluid-pressure into the tube between the heads, one of said heads being stationary at one end of the tube and the other head being movable toward the other end of the tube, a mandrel, and a series of sleeves removably mounted onthe mandrel, said mandrel and sleeves cooperating to receive and transmit the thrust of the movable head to; an abutment on the tube, said sleeves being successively removable from the mandrel to permit progressive movements of the movable head by the action of the fluid-pressure thereon to include between said heads successive zones of increased area for the successive applications of the fluid-pressure, the increased area of each zone being determined by the length of the previously removed sleeve.

20. The process of treating metallic tubes.

to shape and to strengthen the same by fluidpressure introduced between heads relatively sure to separate the'heads to extend the area of application, applying deforming fluidpressure to the area so extended, and repeat- 1 movable in the bore of the tube, consisting ing the operation throughout the length of the tube.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

EUGENE SCHNEIDER. 

